Solving Logarithmic Equations

Generally, there are two types of logarithmic equations. Study each case carefully before you start looking at the worked examples below.

Types of Logarithmic Equations

The first type looks like this…

If you have a single logarithm on each side of the equation having the same base then you can set the arguments equal to each other and solve. The arguments here are the algebraic expressions represented by M and N.

The second type looks like this…

If you have a single logarithm on one side of the equation then you can express it as an exponential equation and solve.

Let’s learn how to solve logarithmic equations by going over some examples.

Examples of How to Solve Logarithmic Equations

Example 1: Solve the logarithmic equation

Since we want to transform the left side into a single logarithmic equation, then we should use the Product Rule in reverse to condense it. Here is the rule just in case you forgot…

Drop the logs, set the arguments (stuff inside the parenthesis) equal to each other

Then solve the linear equation. I know you got this part down!

Just a big caution. ALWAYS check your solved values from the original logarithmic equation.

Remember…

It is OKAY to have values of x such as positive, 0, and negative numbers.

However, it is NOT ALLOWED to have a logarithm of negative number and zero when substituted or evaluated into the original logarithm equation.

logb(negative number) = undefined

logb(0) = undefined

Now, let’s check our answer if x = 7 is a valid solution. Substitute back into the original logarithmic equation and verify if it yields a true statement.

Yes! Since x = 7 checks, we have a solution at x = 7.

Example 2: Solve the logarithmic equation

Start by condensing the log expressions on the left into a single logarithm using the Product Rule. What we want is to have a single log expression on each side of the equation. Be ready though to solve for a quadratic equation since x will have a power of 2.

Drop the logs, set the arguments (stuff inside the parenthesis) equal to each other

Solve the quadratic equation using factoring method. But you need to move everything on one side while forcing the opposite side equal to 0.

Set each factor equal to zero then solve for x.

x − 5 = 0 implies that x = 5

x + 2 = 0 implies that x = −2

Let’s check our potential answers x = 5 and x = − 2 if they will be valid solutions. Substitute back into the original logarithmic equation and verify if it yields a true statement.

After checking our values of x, we found that x = 5 is definitely a solution. However, x = −2 generates some negative numbers inside the parenthesis ( log of zero and negative numbers are undefined) that makes us eliminate x = −2 as part of our solution.

Example 3: Solve the logarithmic equation

This is an interesting problem. What we have here are differences of logarithmic expressions in both sides of the equation. Simplify or condense the logs in both sides by using the Quotient Rule which looks like this…

Given

The difference of logs is telling us to use the Quotient Rule. Convert the subtraction operation outside into a division operation inside the parenthesis. Do it to both sides of the equations.

I think we are ready to set each argument equal to each other since we are able to reduce the problem to have a single log expression on each side of the equation.

Drop the logs, set the arguments (stuff inside the parenthesis) equal to each other. Note that this is a Rational Equation. One way to solve it is to get its Cross Product.

It looks like this after getting its Cross Product.

Simplify both sides by the Distributive Property. At this point, we realize that it is just a Quadratic Equation. No big deal then. Move everything to one side, and that forces one side of the equation to be equal to zero.

This is easily factorable. Now set each factor to zero and solve for x.

So, these are our possible answers.

I will leave it to you to check our potential answers back into the original log equation. You should verify that x = 8 is the only solution, while x = −3 is not since it generates a scenario wherein we are trying to get the logarithm of a negative number. Not good!

Example 4: Solve the logarithmic equation

If you see “log” without an explicit or written base, it is assumed to have a base of 10. In fact, logarithm with base 10 is known as the common logarithm.

What we need is to condense or compress both sides of the equation into a single log expression. On the left side, we see a difference of logs which means we apply the Quotient Rule while the right side requires Product Rule because they’re the sum of logs.

There’s just one thing that you have to pay attention to the left side. Do you see that coefficient 1/2? Well, we have to bring it up as an exponent using the Power Rule in reverse…

Given

Bring up that coefficient 1/2 as an exponent (refer to the leftmost term)

Simplify the exponent (still referring to the leftmost term)

Then, condense the logs on both sides of the equation. Use the Quotient Rule on the left and Product Rule on the right.

Here, I used different colors to show that since we have the same base (if not explicitly shown it is assumed to be base 10), it’s okay to set them equal to each other.

Dropping the logs and just equating the arguments inside the parenthesis.

At this point, you may solve the Rational Equation by performing Cross Product. Move all the terms on one side of the equation, then factor out.

Set each factor equal to zero and solve for x.

It’s time to check your potential answers. When you check x = 0 back into the original logarithmic equation, you’ll end up having an expression that involves getting the logarithm of zero which is undefined, meaning – not good! So, we should disregard it as a solution.

This problem involves the use of the symbol “ln” instead of “log” to mean logarithm.

Think of ln as a special kind of logarithm using base e where e≈ 2.71828.

Given

Use Product Rule on the right side

Write the variable first then the constant to be ready for FOIL method

Simplify the two binomials by multiplying them together

At this point, I simply color-coded the expression inside the parenthesis to imply that we are ready to set them equal to each other.

Yep! This is where we say that the stuff inside the left parenthesis equals the stuff inside the right parenthesis.

Solve the Quadratic Equation using the Square Root Method. You do it by isolating the squared variable on one side and the constant on the other. Then we apply the square root on both sides.

Don’t forget the ± symbol.

Simplifying further, we should get these possible answers.

Checking if the potential answers found above are possible answers, you should see that the ONLY valid answer is x=1/2 which makes x = −1/2 an extraneous answer.

Example 6: Solve the logarithmic equation

There is only one logarithmic expression in this equation. We consider this as the second case wherein we have…

We will transform the equation from the logarithmic to exponential form, and solve.

Given

I color coded the parts of the logarithmic equation to show where they go when converted into exponential form.

The blue expression stays at its current location, but the red number becomes the exponent of the base of the logarithm which is 3.

Simplify the right side, 34 = 81.

Finish off by solving the linear equation that arises.

You should check that the value x = 12 is indeed a solution to the logarithmic equation.

Example 7: Solve the logarithmic equation

Collect all the logarithmic expressions on one side of the equation ( keep it on the left ) and move the constant to the right side. Use the Quotient Rule to express the difference of logs as fractions inside the parenthesis of the logarithm.

Given

Move all the logarithmic expressions to the left of the equation, and the constant to the right.

Use the Quotient Rule to condense the log expressions on the left side.

Get ready to write the logarithmic equation into its exponential form.

The blue expression stays in its current location, but the red constant turns out to be the exponent of the base of the log.

Simplify the right side of the equation since 51 = 5

This is a Rational Equation due to the presence of variables in both the numerator and denominator.

I would solve this equation using the Cross Product Rule. But I have to express first the right side with the explicit denominator of 1.

Perform the Cross-Multiplication and then solve the resulting linear equation.

When you check x = 1 back into the original equation, you should agree that x = 1 is a solution.

Example 8: Solve the logarithmic equation

This problem is very similar to #7. Let’s gather all the logarithmic expressions to the left while keeping the constant on the right side. Since we have the difference of logs, we will utilize the Quotient Rule.

Given

Move the log expressions to the left side, and keep the constant to the right.

Apply the Quotient Rule since they are the difference of logs.

I used different colors here to show where they go after rewriting in exponential form.

Notice that the expression inside the parenthesis stays on its current location, while the 5 becomes the exponent of the base.

To solve this Rational Equation, apply the Cross Product.

Simplify the right side by the distributive property. It looks like we are dealing with a quadratic equation.

Move everything to the left side and make the right side just zero.

Factor out the trinomial. Set each factor equal to zero and solve for x.

Solving for x, you should get these values as potential solutions.

Make sure that you check the potential answers from the original logarithmic equation. You should agree that x = −32 is the only solution. That makes x = 4 an extraneous solution, so disregard it.

Example 9: Solve the logarithmic equation

I hope you’re getting the main idea now on how to approach this type of problem. Here we see three log expressions and a constant. Let’s separate the log expressions and the constant on opposite sides of the equation.

Let’s keep the log expressions on the left side while the constant on the right side.

Start by condensing the log expressions using the Product Rule to deal with the sum of logs.

Then further condense the log expressions using the Quotient Rule to deal with the difference of logs.

At this point, I used different colors to illustrate that I’m ready to express the log equation into its exponential equation form.

Keep the expression inside the grouping symbol (blue) in the same location while making the constant 1 on the right side as the exponent of the base 7.

Solve this Rational Equation using Cross Product

Cross multiply

Move all terms on the left side of the equation. Factor out the trinomial. Next, set each factor equal to zero and solve for x.

These are your potential answers. Always check your values.

It’s obvious that when we plug in x = −8 back into the original equation, it results in a logarithm with a negative number. Therefore, exclude it as part of your solution. The only answer must be x = 11.

Example 10: Solve the logarithmic equation

Keep the log expression on the left, and move all the constants on the right side.

Simplify

I think we’re ready to transform this log equation into the exponential equation.

The expression inside the parenthesis stays in its current location while the constant 3 becomes the exponent of the log base 3.

Simplify the right side since 33 =27. What we have here is a simple Radical Equation.